Alumnus/Filmmaker’s 9/11-based film attracts Hollywood attention,

but almost a decade later, is it still too soon for 9/11 movies?

In his latest film, The Mourning After, director Lawrence “Law” Watford (COM '04) revisits the tragedy of 9/11 with a story of two corporate executives who survived the tragedy of September 11, 2001 because they were embroiled in an illicit affair that placed them in a nearby hotel, instead of their office in the Twin Towers. The Mourning After is a labor of love, but is it too soon to make entertainment out of our nation’s most horrific tragedy, and if not, just how do you do it?        

The film expands on the award-winning play and short story, Vigil by alumnus and writer, David Ray (COM '03). The play attracted the attention of his former classmate, Watford, who worked with him to retool the dramatic script.  “I always loved the story. I was there when David pitched it back in film school. The challenge for David and I was figuring out how to make the most tragic event in U.S. history a backdrop and not the story itself.”

Watford had seen the 2006 film United 93 and the 2007 film Reign Over Me and felt the later, although not a box-office success, but believed the audacity of this story would make it appealing to a mass audiences.

So armed with a loan from his father and his tax refund, he got on the phone with agents and managers, selling the film. “I felt the audacity of the story sold itself. It was more so me as the director and producer that I had to sell,” says Law.  But when the selling was over he found himself negotiating schedules and fees with Kevin Bacon’s management, having lunch with actor Malik Yoba, and having conference calls with actresses Keesha Sharp (Girlfriends) and Sonja Sohn (The Wire). The lead is being played by fellow alumnus, Sean Michael Doherty (COM '06).

In the end, it would be the intense and fast approaching schedule, coupled with an inflexible budget that would leave his film starless, but still, with enough industry eyes and ears curious about the project and its development prospects… Now Watford is preparing to hit the festival circuit, with his eye on the majors. Now, with the short completed, Law is putting out a 911 call to investors for full-length adaptation of The Mourning After.

For more information about The Mourning After, contact Donnette Dunbar at donette@dashmediapr.com. Or become of fan of Lawville Solutions, LLC on Facebook.